STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 5008

with Assembly Floor Amendments

(Proposed by Assemblywoman LAMPITT)

ADOPTED: JUNE 21, 2021

      These Assembly amendments establish the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Committee in the Department of Health (DOH), which will replace existing Fetal Infant Mortality Review Teams that are currently operated on a regional basis through a number of health consortia.  The commission will be tasked with reviewing reported cases of fetal and infant death, and producing analyses and recommendations related to the causes of and ways to prevent fetal and infant death.  The amendments establish certain staffing requirements for the committee, guidelines concerning the authority to conduct investigations, and confidentiality requirements.  The amendments require the DOH to develop a mandatory fetal death reporting process in consultation with the Committee. 

      The amendments require that the DOH consult with the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Committee when developing policies and procedures related to stillbirth and when developing an educational program related to stillbirth for the public and for health care professionals.

      The amendments revise the “Autumn Joy Stillbirth Research and Dignity Act” to provide that it applies to facilities providing labor, delivery, and birthing services, rather than facilities providing birthing and newborn care services.

      The amendments add language providing that the requirement that a dedicated nurse be designated as the point of contact for gestational parents who have experienced a stillbirth will be subject to change based on shift designations.

      The amendments remove a reference to “education and training programs” related to stillbirth to only reference “education programs.

      The amendments provide that the Stillbirth Resource Center may work with maternal health consortia and other organizations to fulfill its obligations under the bill.

      The amendments add language providing that the Stillbirth Resource Center is to work with the Governor’s office and the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Committee to develop strategies and initiatives to eliminate the preventable causes of stillbirth and eliminate disparities related to the rates and causes of stillbirth.

      The amendments add a requirement for the Stillbirth Resource Center to employ certain staff and for the DOH to provide administrative and staff support to the center.

      The amendments revise the title and synopsis of the bill to reflect the expanded scope of the bill as amended.